Declared weapon fires, injures 2 at Varanasi Airport

Two security screeners were injured at Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport on Sunday after a round was fired from a declared weapon during a routine inspection. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. on August 16, 2026, as a passenger traveling with his wife on Air India Express flight IX1810 to Mumbai was undergoing a mandatory security check.

According to a statement from the Varanasi Airport Director, the passenger had declared the weapon for carriage prior to the inspection. "During the weapons check, the passenger fired a round, injuring two AAICLAS screeners," the director stated, noting the date and time of the event. The statement confirmed both injured employees were immediately transported to New Laxmi Trauma Centre for medical treatment. Local police were notified of the incident, and an investigation was promptly launched.

The precise circumstances surrounding the discharge of the weapon remain under investigation. Authorities have not publicly clarified whether the round was fired accidentally or deliberately, nor have they released the identity of the passenger, the type of weapon, or the ammunition involved. The focus of the ongoing...